Package-tie.



D. COMFORT.

PACKAGE TIE.

APPLICATION ru e APE-1, 190a.

Patented June 8, 1909.

UNITED STATES PATEN DAVID COMFORT, OF TIF'ION, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR TO COMFORT-BENNOR TIE COMPANY, OF TIFTON, GEORGIA, A CORPORATION OF GEORGIA.

PACKAGE-TIE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1909.

Application filed April a, 1908. Serial No. 425,249.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,DAvIn CoMroR'r,a citizen of the United States, residing at Tifton, in the county of Tift and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Package- Tie, of which the following is a specifica- This invention relates to package-ties; its object being to provide a simple-and eflicient device whereby assembled mail matter, or the like, can be readily and securely bound together for convenience of handling and transportation, and which theless, be readily and conveniently removed from the package as occasion may require, and if desired, can be used repeatedly upon the same or other packages.

The invention, generally stated, comprises a package-tie embodying a lever-like locking member of novel construction for the cord or binder. This member consists of a shank or body provided with a transversely-extending head portion which constitutes a cleat about which the free end of the binder when appropriately passed around the package can be wound or belayed, and also a bearing whereby the member can be bodily swung or turned to a reverse position upon the package, so as to exert an additional tension upon the binder. The shank or body is also provided at a point remote from said head, with a portion for engagement with the proximate stretch of the binder so as to maintain said member in looking relation with the binder and package.

The invention also comprises various novel features of construction whereby advantages are gained, all of which will be hereinafter fully described and definitely claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of embodiment of my invention as actually applied to a package of mail matter, for example. Fig. 2 is a similar view indicating the first step in the operation of securing the binder around the mail matter. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing thesecond step. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the final step. Fig. 5 is a separate view of the locking member.

In the particular form of embodiment of my invention herein selected for illustration, the locking member comprises a shank 1 having a transverse cleat-like head 2 at one end thereof, and a laterally-projecting toe 3 device can, never-' somewhat remote from the head, preferably at the opposite end of the shank, the whole being constructed of heavy wire or other suitable material. One end of a cord or binder -1 isattached to the shank at or adjacent the head thereof.

As will be observed by reference, more particularly to Fig. 2, the cleat is disposed transversely or at right angles to the shank, and the toe approximately parallel with the cleat, and the latter projects at opposite sides of said shank so that the free end of the binder, when passed around the package, can be wound or belayed about said cleat. In order to allow the binder 4 to be combined properly with the cleat, the latter is disposed on one face of the shank, as clearly shown in Fig. 5, and is thus held above the mail matter M a distance equal to the thickness of the shank, and this space is increased by providing the shank with a curve or bend 6 adjacent to the cleat. The intermediate portion of the shank is provided with a second curve 7, the reverse of that above described, and operates to offset the shank a sufficient distance from the mail matter to permit the former readily to be grasped when the position of the locking member is reversed to complete the tying of the binder, as will hereinafter appear.

The cleat is transversely or longitudinally bowed, in order to cause the terminals to present two fulcrums that will operate to lift the shank when the tie is shifted from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. l, and thereby exerts a pull upon the binder which will operate to take up any slack, and thus increase the binding action between the binder and the mail matter.

The under side of the toe, or that which will initially rest against the mail matter when the tie is in the position shown in Fig. 2, is provided with an angular binder engaging notch or seat 8 having the locking wall 9 disposed adjacent to the terminal of the toe, and the terminal is beveled, as at 10, on the same side as that containing the notch, in order to provide a wedge member that will facilitate the insertion of the toe beneath the 10 binder, as shown in Fig. 1.

In addition to providing a desired space between the mail matter and the cleat, the olfset or bend 6 will operate to hold the knot of the binder out of engagement with the mail matter, thereby to permit of a close union or contact between the tie and such matter.

In assembling the binder with a package of mail matter, the locking member is disposed on the upper side thereof, as shown in Fig. 2, with the beveled side of the toe resting upon the mail matter. The binder is then passed once longitudinally around the bundle in the direction of the arrow A, thence passed around the outer end of the locking member, as shown in Fig. 2, and carried to the left in the direction of the arrow B completely around the bundle, thence turned twice around the cleat that is belayed, as shown in Fig. 8, the free end of the binder being drawn backward toward the toe, and held pressed against the bundle by the thumb of the operator. The shank of the locking member is now grasped, and the member is swung from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 4-. Owing to the fact that the last turn of the binder cord disposed its bight on the right hand side of the shank, there will be a tendency for the toe to move toward the right hand edge of the bundle, and this will facilitate the passage of the beveled edge thereof under the binder, where the latter engages with the notch or seat 8 by which it is held. Y hen the locking member is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the dished side of the cleat is upturned, and as the member is swung to the position shown in Fig. 1, the terminals of the cleat will bear upon the surface of the mail matter, and thereby raise the member somewhat, causing it to exert a draft or pull upon the binder which will operate to take up slack.

By reason of the pressure exerted upon the inner side of the member, from the tendency of the mail matter to expand, the binder will be caused positively to remain held in the notch or seat 8 until released by the operator.

To detach the binder from the bundle, the locking notch is released from engagement with the binder, and the member is thrown backward to its original position, or that shown in Fig. 2, whereupon the binder may readily be released from engagement with the cleat.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that although the improvements herein defined are simple in character, that they will be thoroughly effective for the purpose designed, and will coact in the production of a practical and thoroughly reliable article.

I claim 1. In a package tie, a locking member comprising a shank provided at one end with a head projecting at opposite sides of said shank to form a cleat about which the free end of the binder when passed around the package can be wound or belayed, the shank of said member having a binder-engaging portion remote from said cleat- 2. In a package tie, a locking member comprising a shank provided at one end with a transversely-disposed bowed cleat forming a binder-holding and tightening portion, and at a point remote from said eleat with a binder-engaging portion.

3. In a package tie, a locking member comprising a shank provided at one end with a. transversely disposed longitudinally-bowed cleat, and at its other end with a transversely disposed toe having a beveled terminal and an intermediate binder locking notch.

4-. In a package tie, a locking member comprising a shank having one end curved, a cleat disposed transversely of the shank and secured to the curved end, and a toe projecting from the other end of the shank substantially at right angles to the cleat and provided with a beveled terminal and an intermediate binder locking notch.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

DAVID COMFORT.

Vitnesses J AS. M. WALKER, WM. J. NEALE. 

